Four Thousand Weeks: Some timely advice on how to make the most of our brief lives

Guardian writer Oliver Burkeman urges us to accept that we will never have full control over how we live our lives, to embrace our limits and enjoy the time we have

The commuter rat race: accepting that our time is limited can lead to a more meaningful and productive life. Picture: Getty

PSYCHOLOGY/SELF-HELP

Four Thousand Weeks: Time and How to Use It

By Oliver Burkeman

Bodley Head, €18.95

Oliver Burkeman wants you to give up hope. He wants you to stop thinking that if you just tried harder, you could complete your to-do list, meet all the demands placed on you by others, and achieve all your ambitions. Embracing your limits, he suggests, realising that you’re never going to feel confident enough, and accepting that the world ...